The Riverine Reporter

th A publication of the US Army 458 Trans. Co (PBR) Sea Tigers Association

Winter 2017 Founded 1996 by Lee Helle, US Army, Ret. Editor: Mike Hebert

Vol. 8 #1 Printed by Prestige Press, Inc.

NEWSLETTER

Greetings to all former 458th members World War II-era DUKW to the reunion this (DUKW’s, LARC’s, BARC’s, PBR’s, Whalers, year. and associated Military Police). This is the January 2017 issue of the newsletter. I’m sure that a lot of our members will be found Subsequent issues published quarterly. hanging out at the Ludlow-Bromley Yacht Club, just like last time! For those of you who did not 2017 Sea Tigers Reunion make it to the last reunion in Cincinnati, the yacht club is a floating bar made up of barges Tues. Sept. 5 – Sat. Sept. 9 Erlanger, KY welded together! Don’t forget to hold onto to (across Ohio River from Cincinnati) your seat when a boat goes by! Remember that the yacht club is CASH ONLY. They do, Plans are coming together and being finalized however, have an ATM machine on board. for the annual Sea Tigers Association reunion to be held this year at the Holiday Inn Dave Pizzoferrato will have his PBR moored at Cincinnati Airport, 1717 Airport Exchange Blvd. the yacht club and it will be the point of Erlanger, KY. departure for all activities involving PBR 6927. Dave’s PBR is being brought to our reunion for Room rates are $98.00 + 11.3% tax. Rates are the price of transportation and fuel. The total valid for 3 days prior to reunion and 3 days cost is around $1500. Donations would be very after reunion. much appreciated and can be sent in with your Sea Tigers registration. (Will be mailed later) A complimentary daily Continental Breakfast buffet will be included in the room rate. The Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport is a very veteran-friendly establishment, as is the whole To make reservations call the Holiday Inn of Covington and Northern Kentucky area. reservations at 1-888-294-50067 and mention Almost 75% of our membership lives east of that you are with the 458th Sea Tigers reunion. the Mississippi River. The hotel is located Cut-off date for reservations is August 15, within a day’s drive for a large percentage of 2017. our members. We hope you will consider Scheduled events have not been planned at attending this year. None of us are getting any this time, but we have a commitment from younger. Each reunion brings together old and Dave Pizzoferrato and his PBR 6927 to be new friends who share a common bond of present at the event. Those of you who Army sailors. The simple act of coming attended the 2014 reunion will remember how together with others who shared the same much fun it was to cruise up the Ohio River into experience is never to be forgotten. Call the Downtown Cincinnati. We had to cover the .50 hotel, make a reservation, and come out for cal’s so as not to upset the folks on shore! Ken another chance to ride a PBR with your and Anna Adams will also be bringing their brothers in arms.

Omaha Beach (D-Day) - Cam Ranh Bay - Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Phan Thiet Cat Lo – Di An – Newport – Qui Nhon – Vung Ro Bay – Vung Tau – Cat Lai – Cogido 2 OBITUARY BOOK REVIEW:

We are very saddened to report the loss of the Saying Goodbye to Vietnam son of Sea Tiger’s members Delmar and by Ken Williamson, US Army Photographer 1969 Rhonda Mitchem of Chamois, MO. Ryan Del Mitchem, age 42, passed away on Tuesday, “Vietnam has a mystical attraction that tends to Nov. 1, 2016 surrounded by his family at lure one in and capture one’s soul”.

Capitol Region Medical Center, Chamois, MO. This very well done book is a must-have for any Vietnam Veteran. Ken Williamson was a US Army photographer in 1969 and traveled the length of Vietnam during the war. This 381- page book is his perspective on the struggles to survive in a war zone and his view of the country and people of Vietnam. This 65,000 word manuscript is beautifully illustrated with over 450 photos of the Vietnam War. This well- crafted piece of history will be included in the stories of the Vietnam era that are to be preserved for future generations. The book is Ryan was a 1992 graduate of Jefferson City $49.50 and worth every cent. To order, visit: H.S. and attended Linn State Technical www.sayinggoodbyetovietnam.com College. He was employed with Summitt Mechanical and enjoyed his job. Proud of What I Was… A Soldier by LTC Richard Dan Hill,, Ret. Ryan had a love of the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, and enjoyed building I have to admit that I was somewhat surprised houses, having constructed 7 of them including by this book. I was expecting a pat-me-on-the his wife’s dream home. –back biography of 20 years in the US Army, but I was very pleasantly surprised. This is a Along with his wife Mandy, Ryan is survived by very good read, well-written - hard to put down. his son Tanner and friend (Erika Ellis), his parents Delmar and Rhonda Mitchem, one Dan Hill joined the Army in 1967 as a Private sister Heather Northway (Scott), grandparents and retired 24 years later as a LTC. He and his on both sides and a host of uncles, nieces, family moved 16 times to posts around the nephews, cousins and friends. globe, from Korea to Germany. LTC Hill is a gifted storyteller, recounting his time in Funeral services were held Nov. 5, 2016 at St. Vietnam as a Convoy Commander with a John’s United Church of Christ in Chamois, guntruck unit, then as C.O. of the 1099th MO. Medium Boat Company (LCM).

● If you served in Vietnam you should get It is very interesting to view military service screened for Agent Orange. It does not cost from an Officer’s point of view. This book is you anything and will get on the VA’s Agent filled with entertaining insights, anecdotes, and Orange newsletter. There is a good chance amusing stories, while still retaining that many of us were exposed to this chemical. authenticity and realism.

Any Brown Water Veterans who served The author also attended OCS with Tom between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 may be Wonsiewicz of the 458th Sea Tigers and they eligible for benefits. Exposed veterans have a have remained life-long friends. greater risk of prostate cancer and other ailments. Contact your local VA or I highly suggest reading this fine work. It is http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/ available on Amazon.com for $20.00, or you agentorange. might find it in your local library, as I did.

Omaha Beach (D-Day) - Cam Ranh Bay - Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Phan Thiet Cat Lo – Di An – Newport – Qui Nhon – Vung Ro Bay – Vung Tau – Cat Lai – Cogido 3 The LARC-V diesel engine, very similar to the engine in the by David Doyle M123A 1C tractor. The engine was located at Military Vehicle Preservation Association the rear of the hull and normally drove the rear wheels of the vehicle through an automatic transmission. However, four-wheel drive and of course water propulsion were at the driver’s disposal. The entire body and hull of the LARC were made of aluminum and the complete vehicle looked more like a wheeled barge than a floating truck.

The second of 8 LARC prototypes built by Borg- Warner dwarfs a sports car in this staged 1959 photo. While the headlights of the prototype were recessed into the bow, production vehicles mounted the headlights on the foredeck (US Army Transportation Museum)

The DUKW of WWII fame is generally considered to have been a success. Initially, This is the first Borg-Warner prototype, delivered to this led to postwar experiments with enlarged the US Army on 9 July 1959. With a cargo capacity vehicles such as the Drake. Ultimately, the of 5 tons and a water speed of 10 miles per hour, it DUKW styling was abandoned, and starting was hoped that the LARC would prove an from a clean slate a new vehicle was improvement over the WWII-era DUKW (USMC Research Division) developed with a five-ton capacity. The “Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, 5-ton” – Initial production of the vehicle was by the or LARC-V was much, much larger. Adams Division of LeTourneau-Westinghouse, who completed hull numbers 9 through 241 Though many see this as a modern under contract DA-23-204-TC-1378. Beginning replacement for the Worlds War II era DUKW, with hull number 242 and continuing through in reality it was much, much larger (although hull number 968 Consolidated Diesel electric notably smaller than its siblings – the LARC XV assembled the vehicles. Vehicles of the two and the LARC-LX, or BARC). In another manufacturers varied slightly in detail. contrast to the rapidly developed DUKW, the gestation period of the LARC was prolonged. On the upper front of the vehicle was a crew The Army research Command began work on cab that could be enclosed with either a hard the project in 1956, and by 1959 the Ingersoll or soft top. The steering controls were centered Kalamazoo Division of Borg-Warner had in the cab. The vehicle was quite complex and produced prototypes. After testing and required extensive training to operate properly. modification, the design was finalized and The truck had hydraulic power steering. The entered production in 1963. engine was mounted in the rear of the vehicle, with the bellhousing toward the front of the Sometimes referred to as design number 8005, vehicle. A single speed transmission was the 35-foot long, 10-foot wide, 19000 lb. connected to a 2-speed transfer case that vehicle was powered by a V8-300 Cummins drove the front wheels by means of right-angle

Omaha Beach (D-Day) - Cam Ranh Bay - Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Phan Thiet Cat Lo – Di An – Newport – Qui Nhon – Vung Ro Bay – Vung Tau – Cat Lai – Cogido 4 drives and planetary hubs. The cargo area was the large flat space on the center deck, and side curtains were installed to protect cargo from the surf if need be.

The LARC-V was powered by a single Cummins V*-300 Diesel engine mounted in the rear of the hull, with the radiator behind. Fabric gunwales protected the cargo deck from waves, but could be readily removed to allow forklifts to handle the cargo. (Washington University)

CONFESSIONS OF THE 458TH

Qui Nhon by Lou Baumann

Jerry Wallace almost killed me and Donald Townsley in Qui Nhon. I never knew who it was until the reunion in Cincinnati. I was telling the The fifth PARC-V prototype, laden with kneeling story to Tom Farrell and he said “Wait a soldiers in combat gear, prepares to enter a lake at minute; I just heard the exact same story Fort Bragg, NC during a rehearsal for an Army yesterday. Did you know who it was that did Ready Forces demonstration for President it?” I said “No, do you?” and he said it was Kennedy and a congressional delegation, held 12 Jerry Wallace! Don Townsley and I were October 1961. This vehicle survives today, and is working on a Boston Whaler motor and on display at the US Army Transportation Museum, decided to try it out. It had been raining and we Ft. Eustis, VA. (NARA) were in rain suits with the bib pants. We got out While the Coast Guard received three units in and away from the docks and decided to open 1963, and the Navy a handful of the machines, it up. Naturally, two PBR’s spotted us and the bulk of the LARC-V’s produced were decided to try and swamp us. In case you assigned to Army units. The active duty 165th, forgot, swamping is when one PBR goes flying 305th, 458th, and 461st Transportation by a whaler, throwing up a wake that turns the Companies whaler almost vertical. Then the second PBR follows right behind the first causing the

Omaha Beach (D-Day) - Cam Ranh Bay - Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Phan Thiet Cat Lo – Di An – Newport – Qui Nhon – Vung Ro Bay – Vung Tau – Cat Lai – Cogido 5 second’s wake to fill the whaler with water, PBR’s that day, but it is possible. We played swamping it. Townsley was driving and we cat and mouse up the shoreline going up to both knew what was about to happen so as the and entering Cove 2. We made several turns in first one is about to pass us close by, Townsley the cove with the Whaler still evading us. does a 180 to avoid the wake. As we did, there As we are heading into the cove, the Whaler is the second PBR coming full bore straight makes a quick 180 degree turn and is headed toward us. We are sitting in the back of the straight back at us. There was very little whaler, our bow is up in the air, and we are distance between us so there was no room to running wide open – deer in the head lights! maneuver, so my only choice was to slam the The PBR (now known as Jerry Wallace) does a throttle in full reverse, sometimes referred to as “power stop” sending his bow down to water a power stop. As the 34 boat dove down in the level and we, bow up, came up on the deck water, we hit the whaler with the port side of between the twin .50 caliber machine guns! As the PBR, barely missing a head on impact. the PBR came back up out of the power stop, it flipped us straight back over upside down. I The whaler does a full flip upon impact with the came up between the whaler and the PBR and PBR. I thought “Oh crap, I have killed them.” In Townsley was under the whaler. However, as a few moments - it seemed like a lifetime then - we were wearing rain suits and combat boots, Both of the guys surfaced and had no serious it was EXTREMELY difficult to make it back up injuries. to the surface. The bib pants opened up like a We got the whaler over to shallow water and funnel causing major water resistance. I got it turned over. I recall that gasoline had thought I wasn’t going to make it back to the spilled into the water and we were covered with surface. When I finally surfaced, someone on the spilled fuel. the PBR threw me a line which saved me. After a couple of seconds I realized Townsley hadn’t I had forgotten the names of the people surfaced yet. I was about to head back under involved until I met up with Lou in Cincinnati. holding a line when he came up on the other ♦ ♦ ♦ side of the whaler. Somewhere there is a photo of Townsley and me standing on top of an Reflections by Tom Wonsiewicz upside down Boston Whaler. We found out a … Continued from Fall 2016 lot of things not to do. And after 40+ years I Do you have a jeep lieutenant? I did. He loaded found out who almost ran us over. You might some stuff in the back, and off we went. For the want to check with Wallace and get his version. next couple of hours we went from one hole in Thank goodness those boats could power stop! the wall unit to the next. At each he would trade some of his stuff for some of theirs. Qui Nhon by Jerry Wallace Finally, we headed for Ton Son Nhut. Pulling

About August or September 1970, I was up to a shanty, he remarked that this was the assigned to the 34 boat at Qui Nhon. While we dispatch office, and that they controlled the were out on patrol one afternoon, two guys flight manifests—the passenger lists. I offered to go in with him, but he suggested I stay put came out on one of the Boston Whalers, as if and watch for his signal—then unload the stuff they were on a Sunday cruise. It is my we had collected at the back of their shack. The recollection that one of the guys was a short signal came, and I complied. He walked out in timer. We thought it would be a good possession of the papers necessary to get us opportunity to get the short timer wet by both out two days later. making a close pass with the PBR. I’m not sure exactly what he had bartered, but I It turned out that the operator of the Whaler remember there was ice cream and shrimp was skilled and was able to turn away just as involved. Unforgettable. we were about to get them wet with the spray coming off the boat. I don’t recall having two Leaving From Bien Hoa

Omaha Beach (D-Day) - Cam Ranh Bay - Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Phan Thiet Cat Lo – Di An – Newport – Qui Nhon – Vung Ro Bay – Vung Tau – Cat Lai – Cogido 6 My memory is fuzzy on this, but I believe we has had a great career in teaching and I have had relocated the CO HQ to Bien Hoa just had success in business. As I approach 60, I before I left for home. I clearly recall Homer find myself reflecting more on my military Dawson building himself a bath tub. He built it experience—I suppose as a way to connect with out of masonry and finished it with fiberglass. what our country faces today. I’m no longer a He even had a rubber ducky to go with it. warrior, (unless they need someone to head up a squadron on the Susquehanna River to protect Three Mile Island) but I am trying to be a citizen patriot. What I have found is that most folks in our nation have not been in the service. So, I try to teach and explain what I can. It makes me feel good to do so. We live in a time when there is plenty of interest in and respect for the military. That is a good thing.

But I have regrets too. I wish I had been wiser in 1969. Maybe I could have taken better care of my men. Dawson & Bathtub - The heat did him in! And I regret that I cannot remember the I also remember that as hottest temperature of names. I can see the faces in the fog of my my entire tour. The heat was really oppressive. memory, but the names are gone. It especially I also recall being very anxious that something pains me not to be able to remember the name was going to happen and I wouldn’t make it of the crewman who died while assigned to Cat home. Paranoia, I suppose. Lai. He was too young to spill his life out on the deck of that boat. I would like to go to Homecoming Washington and put my hand on his name on The out processing at Oakland couldn’t go fast The Wall—I would like to talk with his family. enough. The medical checks revealed that I had a significant hearing loss. While it recovered But I do not regret what we were trying to do— somewhat, I still have a constant ringing in my trying to give the Vietnamese a chance at ears that’s getting louder all the time. democracy, a chance at freedom. I am proud of that and sure that it was a worthy cause— I caught a red eye flight through Chicago and despite the outcome. Philadelphia to Allentown. The last leg was only 60 miles, so the puddle jumper never In May 2002 some of the guys from my OCS gained much altitude. I can remember the early class (Alpha 508) had a reunion. It was a morning sun side lighting the blossoms in the powerful experience. Hardly any of us had been fruit orchards. It looked absolutely gorgeous. I in touch, but after 34 years we are still swear I can remember smelling their fragrance- brothers. even if it was imaginary. And so, to all of you who read this and have My family was there to greet me and it was a shared the common experience of duty with the joyous moment. Once again, I could join with 458th, I salute you. And to those of you who my young wife and relax without fear. I had read this and have not had the common bond made it. I was safe. of PBR duty—read gently. Be respectful in the way you treat these memories, they came at a Afterword precious price. I am ever grateful that I had the opportunity to serve in the Army. I am a better person and (Thanks to Tom Wonsiewicz for sharing his citizen because of it. memories from “Reflections.” It has taken seven years to run the entire volume in this After leaving the service my life became very newsletter! We hope you enjoyed reading it.) busy. Lois and have raised two fine sons, she

Omaha Beach (D-Day) - Cam Ranh Bay - Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Phan Thiet Cat Lo – Di An – Newport – Qui Nhon – Vung Ro Bay – Vung Tau – Cat Lai – Cogido 7 The 458th Trans. Co. in World War II the stomach portion of your body lets you know by Richard E. Leibel it needs some necessary nutrients.

…Continued from Fall 2016 At this point let me backtrack a bit. It is a matter concerning the soldiers whose parents It was a large theater, seating about 1200 were not citizens of the USA. In this matter I people. I say about because there were only a secretly worked with the Seattle office of the few theater seats reserved for officers. The rest OSS (Office of Strategic Services). It is now of the seats were bare wooden planks with no known as the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) backrests. The closer the guys sat the more I was ordered to keep track and record all of people would be watching the movie. the return addresses of the mail that this group In only a short time I was promoted to ticket of GIs received. I was instructed to work these taker/cashier and finally manager. I was return address into a letter form and mail the promoted, not necessarily because I was good results weekly to an APO address in Seattle, at my job but because of the crew. Some would which I did. One week there was no mail of this quit because they didn't like to work seven days sort so I did not send the weekly report. It felt a week but mostly they would quit because like a mini vacation. I was glad to have the their unit was being transferred away from Ft. week off. Soon after the day that I did not send Lewis. As manager, I was not only responsible the weekly letter, three well-dressed gentlemen for opening and closing the theater and hiring came into my mailroom. They introduced and firing and making out the payroll but I was themselves as federal agents of the OSS. They responsible for the cash intake to balance with mentioned that they did not receive my weekly the number of tickets sold. In order that I letter. I told them the reason and they said it would not have any shortage taken out of my was important to write the weekly letter even if $12.00 per week pay and since everyone was there was nothing to report. They also paid in cash, I worked with one employee short mentioned that because of these weekly letters, and would sign a phony name on the payroll. they discovered one of the tracked letter writers This is how the previous manager balanced the was actually an enemy spy. So in essence I was books. It amounted to a petty cash fund. If instrumentally involved in the capture of one of there was any surplus, it was used to buy our enemies and I never even received a medal hamburgers or hot dogs and a drink for or thank you for my efforts. members of the crew. It was one of the perks … Continued Spring 2017 connected to the job. Memories of Serving with the 458th Somehow the officer in charge of all the by Ted Faurbo theaters on the post became aware of what I …Continued from Fall 2016 was doing. I explained what I was doing with these so-called secret funds. The officer never bawled me out and he never placed a negative mark on my record. He then politely explained that that he was doing the same thing. He said he used his hidden cash fund to supply toilet paper, hand towels, and soap in all of the theaters. It is amazing one had to be a petty thief to supply the necessary needs to live like a human being in the US Army. In my case, to replace the petty cash fund, the ticket takers did not give some of the patrons a torn ticket stub. A small amount of these tickets were resold to cover any cash shortage and also cover the cost of a needed snack. After all, when you work up to seven hours in a stretch,

Omaha Beach (D-Day) - Cam Ranh Bay - Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Phan Thiet Cat Lo – Di An – Newport – Qui Nhon – Vung Ro Bay – Vung Tau – Cat Lai – Cogido 8 The commonly used grading system of everything was #1 for the best, and #10 the worst. Our normal language was "number f--- ing 10" I think we still use these terms today, but just not as often. I do, but to myself or another Vietnam vet. The large building in the background is our mess hall, and our showers with the barrels on the roof.

Vic Billingsley (with two church keys) ready to haul beer

Burning shit was a daily chore. We had to remove the cut-down 55 gal barrels from the outhouses, pour some fuel oil in it and burn it off. Every morning there was a black haze over Cam Ranh Bay from everybody burning shit. The smell is unmistakable and unforgettable. Some guys could not handle the job; they would be gagging while they removed cans Our tent with the #1 sign from outhouses. Some guys wore their gas

masks. I volunteered for it every chance I had. Paperless Requisitioning Getting lumber was not always easy. I … Continued Spring 2017 remember shortly after we started unloading th ships I had a load of lumber and when I got to 458 Supply Room the beach our CO came up to me and asked to Ray Simpson has a very good selection of see the paper work for my load. He looked at 458th memorabilia, T-shirts, hat, polo shirts, it, tore it up and said "take that to our company pins, etc. on hand. area, we need it for our mess hall". Guess what I learned from that! LARC T-Shirts $20 PBR T-Shirts $20 When we were loaded at the ship they gave us PBR Polo Shirts $25 papers, several copies, for our load, but we PBR Denim Shirts $40 never signed the papers saying we received the LARC Cap $10 load. We did make sure that when something PBR Vietnam Cap $16 was damaged before it was loaded on our LARC Belt Buckle $35 LARCs it was noted on the paper work from the PBR Belt Buckle $35 ship. That way a pallet of beer with a couple of 458 LARC Pin $7.50 cases damaged would end up as only a half a 458 PBR Pin $7.50 pallet by the time we hit the beach. I think we PBR Pocket Patch $7.50 could get 20+cases into our front hatch, then Sea Tiger Patch $7.00 more in the cab on the floor. Especially with 458 Challenge Coin $12.00 beer it became a game to see who could bring PBR “180” Prints $20.00 the most back to the company area. Under the floorboards in the tents was a good place to Prices do not include shipping. To order please store it. I heard a story of an entire pallet contact Ray at [email protected] or give him a sliding off the deck and sinking in the bay. Not call at (512) 415-6966. To have a photo sheet sure if that is what really happened. I suspect it of items available emailed to you, contact Mike ended up in the company area. Hebert @ [email protected].

Omaha Beach (D-Day) - Cam Ranh Bay - Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Phan Thiet Cat Lo – Di An – Newport – Qui Nhon – Vung Ro Bay – Vung Tau – Cat Lai – Cogido 9 Don’t forget to visit the following 458th 458th SeaTigers Officers Transportation Company web sites:

www.458thseatigers.org President: Tom Farrell Vice President: Denny Hull www.458pbr-vungrobay.com Secretary: Robert L. Ness Treasurer: Jerry Wallace We really, really need stories from your Chaplin: Scott Fultz experiences in Vietnam! Please send Historian: Bob Brower submissions to one of the staff listed below Membership Chairman: Tom Farrell

Back issues of the newsletter are available. Just contact Mike Hebert listed below. Deadline for Spring (April) issue of newsletter is We appreciate your submissions, feature ideas, corrections & criticisms. Please submit March 15. Please submit info to: materials prior to that Tom Farrell: [email protected] date. Phone: (856) 562-1797 “Letters to Editor” Bob Ness: [email protected] also welcome. Mike Hebert: [email protected] Phone: (804) 694-0415 Bill Northrop: [email protected]

th 458 SEA TIGERS ASSOCIATION Robert L. Ness, Secretary ● 108 Tewa Drive ● Colorado Springs, CO 80911-1922 Email: [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / RENEWAL

Name: ______Phone: (_____) ______

Address: ______

City: ______State: ______Zip: ______

email: ______

Military Info: Unit: ______Dates w/Unit: ______Location: ______Rank: ______

Please check this box if you DO NOT want information on this application shared with other members of our organization.

DUES (check box): 1 year; $20.00 3 years; $45.00 Lifetime; $195.00 DONATION TO NEWSLETTER FUND $5 $10 $20 Other: $______

Please submit verification of service with application. We will need any of the following: copy of orders, copy of 201, photos, or a member who can vouch for you.

Thank you for your support!

Omaha Beach (D-Day) - Cam Ranh Bay - Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Phan Thiet Cat Lo – Di An – Newport – Qui Nhon – Vung Ro Bay – Vung Tau – Cat Lai – Cogido